1659 in science
# 1659 in science

The year 1659 in science and technology involved some significant events.

## Astronomy

* Christiaan Huygens publishes Systema Saturnium, including the first illustration of the Orion Nebula.

## Mathematics

* First known use of the term Abscissa, by Stefano degli Angeli.
* Swiss mathematician Johann Rahn publishes Teutsche Algebra, containing the first printed use of the 'division sign' (÷, a repurposed obelus variant) as a mathematical symbol for division and of the 'therefore sign' (∴).

## Medicine

* Thomas Willis publishes De Febribus.

## Physics

* Christiaan Huygens derives the formula for centripedal force.

## Births

* February 27 – William Sherard, English botanist (died 1728)
* June 3 – David Gregory, Scottish astronomer (died 1708)

## Deaths

* October 10 – Abel Tasman, Dutch explorer (born 1603)
